The Role Genetics Could Play in Addiction

Ambroise’s Addiction Story: Genes, Choices, and a Path to Sobriety

Growing up, my father’s struggle with alcoholism was our family’s unspoken norm. At 12, when he finally sought help, I was introduced to the stark reality of his addiction. Before then, our weekends were SpendS in bustling bars, me perched on a barstool, sipping Shirley Temples among grown men’s laughter. Our home, too, echoed with the clack of pool balls and the clink of his ever-present Johnnie Walker Red. My first taste of alcohol was a finger dipped in Passover wine, a faint memory now.

Science is shedding light on addiction’s roots. In 2023, Nature Mental Health reported the discovery of genes commonly inherited across addiction disorders. I wonder if my predisposition lies in these familial genes, activated by my environment: the pools halls, the bars, my father’s struggles.

My introduction to cocaine and self-harm in New York’s ’80s set me on a path of self-destruction. Cutting, cocaine, Dexedrine, anorexia, Klonopin – I embraced them all, my brain’s addiction-prone circuits buzzing with each illicit high. Today, my relationship with alcohol is a cautious dance. One drink, usually a cocktail, is my limit. Too many trigger migraines, a cruel reminder of the past.

Depression, too, has been a persistent companion, its roots perhaps also in my genes. Studies show a significant heritability estimate for both depression and substance use disorders. My medications keep these demons at bay, but I know they’re never far. As Winston Churchill famously put it, the black dog of depression can slither in anytime.

My journey to sobriety and stability has been a marathon of therapy, not a sprint. I’m grateful for each day depression and addiction-free. But I know better than to assume the battle is over. There are no guarantees in this dance with demons. So, I keep moving, one step at a time.